Multipurpose nozzle



Dec. 16, 1958 LAMPE 2,864,120

MULTIPURPOSE NOZZLE Filed Aug. 13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E MN n n INVENTOR Robert t. Lam be RNEY Dec. 16, 1958 R. c. LAMPE MULTIPURPOSE NOZZLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1954 a W M E w a 6 m y M TI 2 I 7 4 .I I g 6 3 Zia Rob ert (2 Lampe 7 w 3" 7 A ORNEY Dec. 16, 1958 Filed Aug. 15, 1954 Tiqlll R. C. LAMPE MULTIPURPOSE NOZZLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Robert C lam be RNEY MULTHPURPGSE NOZZLE Robert (1. Lampe, tamford, Conm, assignor to Electrohnr Corporation, @id- Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application August 13, 1954, Serial No. 449,661

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-417) This invention relates to a new and improved multiple purpose suction nozzle for usewith a conventional vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a dual purpose nozzle or cleaning tool which is readily adapted for use on various pile, fabric or similar floor coverings, or for use on linoleum or even the bare floor itself.

One object of this invention is to provide a highly flexible cleaning tool having multi-purpose nozzleopcnings for selective use on various floors and floor coverings.

A further object hereof is to provide a brush .or plain nozzle opening selectively manipulatable. and readily and easily chosen at the operators will to effect various surface cleaning steps.

Still another object is to provide a readily dismantled combination floor .and rug cleaning nozzle which by inversion and resetting of certain of its elements may be quickly adapted for continued use andfor various. clean in g purposes.

Various other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, especially when considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 'l is a top plan view of one embodiment showing a cleaning tool with' its rug cleaning nozzle opening in operative position;

Fi ure 2 is a front elevation'partially in section showing the releasable nozzle holding .means;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of thenozzl'e in rug cleaning position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a side plan view showing the dual nozzle opening portion swung through 90 preparatory to the selection of either one of the desired nozzle openings; the broken line portion shows the nozzle position swiveled 90 from its full line position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on a line similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but with the floor brush opening of the nozzle in operative position;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a modification of the nozzle of this invention utilizing a conventional toggle clamp for a nozzle retaining means;

Figure 8 is a front view of the modification of Fig. 7 showing the toggle clamp in retaining position;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of part of the nozzle opening;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the modification shown in Figs. 79 taken on the line 1t)itl of Fig. 8, showing the toggle in two positions, retaining (in full lines) and releasing (in broken lines); and

Figures 11 and 12 show a further modification of a retaining toggle clamp showing retaining and releasing positions, respectively.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention, that the cleaning tool comprises a main supporting member or frame, preferably L-shaped and having a passageway therethrough into one end of which passageway is swiveled for free movement a suction conduit connector elbow whereby this tool may be readily attached toawand orvacuum cleaner hose.

as a nozzle for use on a pile rug, whilethe other side'of the .base member is formed witha brush for useontabare floor. Either one of these nozzles may be placed in operative position on the supporting frame and afiixed thereon by manipulation of thenozzle portion on itsswivel or similar universal movement means by which. it is attached.

to the supporting member in close proximity tov the other.

end of the passageway. The nozzle portion is swung intozlocking position against this other end ofthe passageway by making a sealed contact thereagainst asv aconforming airtight fit with the inoperative side oflthedual purpose nozzle base member.

-In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, a.floor brush. forms one opening of the nozzle, while-a pile rug, cleaning lip forms the other opening-ofth'e nozzle. However, variousother types of 'nozzle openings. may be put.

into similar selective combination with each other tomakeup the nozzle base member.

Referring now in'more detail to the drawings, wherein the conventional wand and flexible suction hose are not.

shown, the embodiment of the invention. detailed.in- Figs. 1 through-6, inclusive, illustrates one modificationthereof.

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate another modification, .while.

conform in an airtight fit with a correspondingly ground. surface 22a or 225 on a suction communicatingv orifice in nozzle base member 22..

The suction air stream is'thus" communicated through connector-l4; the opening in supporting'member' 12; the" passageway through supporting member 12 and opening 22a in nozzle base member 22, to the appropriate operatively positioned nozzle opening (i. e. rug nozzle 25 in Figs. 1 through 4 and floor brush 27 in Fig. 6).

Nozzle base member 22 is mounted by universal movement means 3t to the supporting member 12 in the form of a linkage consisting of a hinge pin 31 in a lug 32 attached to and extending from the supporting member 12. A link 3 is mounted to swing on pin 31 and a bolt 36 swivel mounts base member 22 to link 34.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1 through 6, inclusive, a pair of latches 50, 60 both spring biased to nozzle holding position and fulcrumed at 51, 61, respectively, engage a detent 50a, 6% formed as part of the nozzle base member in order to hold the particular nozzle surface selected for a particular cleaning purpose in a locked and fixed operative position. Then, in order to change from one operative nozzle 25 and substitute the other nozzle opening 27 on the opposite side thereof, the thumb and forefinger of one hand are pressed over the latches 50, 60 and grasp the supporting member 12. This releases nozzle base member 22 (see broken lines, Fig. 5). Then nozzle member 22 can be fulcrumed on pin 31, the nozzle member 22 can then be swiveled on bolt 36, Fig. 6, and swung back into suction communicating position as shown in Fig. 6 where abutting joint 12a conforms in an airtight fit with correspondingly ground surface 22b. In this position latches 50, 60 again retain the properly selected nozzle in fixed position.

In the variation shown in Figs. 7 through 10, inclusive,

Patented Dec. 1.6,-1958.

The nozzle portion itself consists. of a base member having one side (for. example) formed.

bodiment are similarly numbered. In this embodiment a toggle clamp 70 serves as the means for holding the desired nozzle opening in position in cooperation with an edge or lip 72 of the nozzle member. In Fig. the toggle champ link 74 is shown in released position (broken lines) and the toggle 70 is shown (full lines) in nozzle retaining position clamped over the edge portion 72 of nozzle 22.

In this embodiment nozzle base member 22 is mounted by universal movement means 130 to the supporting member 12 in the form of a linkage consisting of a hinge pin 131 in a lug 132 attached to and extending from the supporting member 12. A link 134 is mounted to swing on pin 131 and a bolt 136 swivel mounts base member 22 to link 134.

The further modification of the invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12 illustrates a diagonal slot and pin type of fastening device or clamp. A handle 91 is fulcrumed at 92 and provided with an eccentric cam surface 93 which in contacting a surface 94 serves to lift latch 95. Simultaneously latch 95 is drawn in towards the frame member 12 by the action of pin 95a in slot 95b and against the biasing pressure of spring 97 while end clamp member 98 securely engages the edge portion 99 of nozzle 22.

In each case a corresponding abutting joint, such as 12a conforms in an airtight fit with a correspondingly ground surface 22a or 22b on a suction communicating orifice of nozzle base member 22.

Although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that these are merely illustrative and not limitative of the scope of this invention, which is to be determined solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner tool, a suction conduit connector, a tubular supporting member in the form of an elbow having one end telescopically swiveled to said connector, a nozzle member having dissimilar surface contacting faces forming suction nozzle inlet openings on opposite sides of said nozzle member, means mounting said nozzle member on said tubular supporting member for universal movement relative thereto whereby either of said nozzle faces may be disposed in operative position for contact with a surface to be cleaned and with the other of said nozzle faces arranged in communication with the other end of said tubular supporting member, said mounting means including a pair of pivots, the axis of one being disposed transversely to the normal direction of nozzle movement and the axis of the other disposed transversely to the axis of the first, whereby said nozzle member may be swung on the first of said pair of pivots out of engagement with said supporting member and then swung on the second of said pair of pivots to change work faces, said supporting member being relatively short in length so that said suction conduit connector and nozzle member are in relatively close proximity, and latch means for retaining said nozzle faces one at a time in communication with a said supporting member.

2. A relatively compact vacuum cleaner tool comprising a suction conduit connector, a supporting member in the form of a short angular pipe section defining an elbow having one end swiveled to said connector, a nozzle member having dissimilar surface contacting faces forming suction nozzle inlet openings on opposite sides of said nozzle member, means mounting said nozzle member on said supporting member for universal movement relative thereto whereby either of said nozzle faces may be disposed in operative position for contact with a surface to be cleaned and with the other of said nozzle faces arranged in communication with the other end of said tubular supporting member, said mounting means including a pair of pivots the axis of one of which being disposed transversely to the normal direction of nozzle movement and 'the axis of the other of which being disposed transversely to the axis of the first whereby said nozzle may be swung on the first of said pivots out of engagement with said supporting member and then may be swung on the second pivot to change work faces.

3. The structure of claim 2 having latch means for retaining said nozzle faces one at a time in communication with said supporting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,242,566 Bilde May 20, 1941 2,351,507 Hallock June 13, 1944 2,432,670 Lampe Dec. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,893 Great Britain Dec. 4, 1913 

